The first impression is always the best impression when it comes to branding and image makeover. Jagan Circar has missed this logic with regard to the Diplomatic Outreach event organised by the Union Ministry of External Affairs in Vijayawada. Nearly 50 Diplomats and Consul-Generals from 30 countries attended. The message they have taken back is just that there’s a government in Andhra Pradesh which is interested only in its too many populist and cash transfer schemes rather than industry promotion and job creation.
Analysts say that CM Jagan has missed a golden opportunity to use this forum to tell the Centre that his government is not totally against the industry. The Centre held the event despite the already negative atmosphere generated by the cancellation of PPAs, withdrawal of World Bank and Asian Bank from Andhra projects, stopping of Capital City project, etc.
Industrialists say that Outreach event will prove to be a final blow to Jagan Circar as far as industrial development and BJP support is concerned. They say that diplomats came from America, Japan, China, Germany and other important countries. These diplomats have prior knowledge of how World Bank and Asian Bank projects were cancelled for political reasons in the state. The diplomats came with expectations of a change in AP’s approach but it didn’t happen. The only opportunity to impress them and global investors has been thus wasted.
